What does that even mean??

Happy 2025, everybody!

Let's kick off the new year with a new word: bafflegab.

It's a noun. I've noticed most of the words in this newsletter are nouns. Maybe nouns just tend to be the most interesting type of word.

Bafflegab refers to something that's generally not that interesting, though. In fact, when you're facing bafflegab, your eyes probably glaze over and you might find yourself fighting the urge to grab your phone and start scrolling. Or interrupt the person speaking to you. Or walk away.

That's because bafflegab refers to confusing or generally unintelligible jargon.

So think like, somebody explaining how all the parts in your computer work together (if you're not well-versed in computer innards).

Or your personal trainer explaining all the macros and micros and reps and DOMS and vitamins and how to get the ratios just right...when you've just set foot in the gym for the first time ever.

OR a situation where the speaker doesn't quite understand the jargon they're using, so they aren't quite making sense. And then it's even worse if you kind of know what they're talking about, but not enough to correct them, but enough to recognize that they don't know either.

Jargon isn't a bad thing in itself--you really can't talk about building a PC without discussing specific parts, and you can't put together a workout and diet plan without talking about nutrition. Bafflegab isn't just jargon, it's confusing jargon. And if you're confusing people, you're not connecting with them. And then your credibility tanks.

So maybe there's a 2025 goal in there. If you're not 100% confident about a word's meaning and connotation, either take it out of your vocabulary or look it up so you are 100% confident next time you use it. And more importantly, know your audience. Because what's just a regular conversation to you could be complete bafflegab to them.